Fact: Mount Union never trailed Wesley College in Saturday's Division III national quarterfinal football playoff game.

The only other pertinent information that matters is the Purple Raiders escaped with a 62-59 victory over the visiting Wolverines. There were too many school, team and even Division III marks set or tied in this game to even think about.

"Well, it's good to advance," an obviously drained Mount Union head coach Vince Kehres said after his team improved to 13-0 in winning its 28th straight game.

The Purple Raiders advanced to their 19th straight semifinal game and will face North Central (Ill.), a 41-7 winner over Bethel, at a site to be determined today.

It wasn't easy. Not even with a gift-wrapped 31-0 lead after one quarter.

Mount Union enjoyed a near-perfect start. The defense forced three Wesley interceptions, including a 56-yard pick-six by Tre Jones. B.J. Mitchell ran 67 yards on the game's first play. The special teams had a 76-yard Luc Meacham punt return. And quarterback Kevin Burke's 23-yard TD pass to Sherman Wilkinson made it 31-0.

Then all hell break loose with the Wolverines' offense. Sophomore quarterback Joe Callahan ignored a nightmarish first 15 minutes and caught fire for the next 45.

The fact sheet on Callahan: 35-of-52 for 633 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. The eight TDs tied the national record set by Mount's Jim Ballard 20 years ago.

"Mostly, it was the result of great pass offense by Wesley," Kehres said of Callahan's work that set yardage and TD records for a Mount Union foe.

Callahan brushed off Raiders blitzers to throw screens to freshman back Jamar Baynard, who caught three short tosses for scores. He also looked middle and deep to Steve Koudossou, who set a Wesley single-game mark with 273 receiving yards to go with touchdowns of 78 and 56 yards.

Callahan also clicked with Bryce Shade on touchdowns of 15 and 81 yards, and with Jeremiah Howe on a 33-yarder. The 16-yarder to Shade cut Mount Union's advantage to 48-41 with 11:51 left to play, the closest Wesley had been since the first 2:22 of the game.

"I had a rough first quarter," Callahan said. "But we never lost hope. People around me made plays."

That's when Mount Union, blanked in the third quarter and held scoreless in a period for just the third time with its starters, answered.

The offense converted two third downs, the second drawing a targeting foul on a Wesley defender after a hit to Burke's head. Mount offensive coordinator Geoff Dartt — thinking the Wolverines were thinking run at their own 41 and Burke dinged — called Wilkinson's number on a deep post.

Wilkinson blew by his man, hauled it in and cruised home for a 55-41 advantage and some breathing room.

Page 2 of 2 - "Coach Dartt had a great play call and Sherm ran a great route," Burke said. "He got in the corner's toes and used his speed to get loose.

"If you are going to take shots at any one of us — offensively or defensively — we are going to respond in a big way."

Wilkinson responded with his best game. He had five grabs for 135 yards and scores of 23, 57 and 41 yards. Mitchell finished with 134 yards rushing, his sixth straight 100-yard game. Burke went 16-of-27 for 280 yards and three TDs, plus rushing scores of 8 and 16 yards, the latter accounting for the eventual winning points.

"A lot of people want to find answers with one play or one drive," Burke said. "It's really a matter of executing and being consistent every play."

The Mount offense also was turnover free. Wesley had six turnovers.

"There were a lot of great plays and so on," Wesley head coach Mike Drass said. "But we turned the ball over, and I don't think they did."